Unknown Good King Wenceslas
GOOD KING WENCESLAS
Good King Wenceslas looked out on the feast of Stephen.
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost
was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel.
Hither page and stand by me if thou knowst it telling
Yonder peasant, who is he, where and what his dwelling?
Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the
mountain,
Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes'
fountain.
Bring me flesh and bring me wine, bring me pinelogs
hither
Thou and I will see him dine when we bear them thither
Page and monarch forth they went, forth they went
together
Through the rude winds wild lament, and the bitter
weather.
Sire the night is darker now, and the wind blows
stronger
Fails my heart I know now how, I can go no longer.
Mark my footsteps my good page, tread thou in them
boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less
coldly.
In his master's steps he trod where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed
Therefore Christian men be sure, wealth or rank
possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find
blessing.
